Summary—Interstate Relations
Each of the thirteen states that make up the United
States commit to a firm "friendship" with each of
the other states. They are united for the purposes
of defending themselves against military threats,
protecting their independence, and ensuring the
general well being of all of the states and good
relationships between them. Each state commits to
help any other state to defend itself against any
attack on the basis of their religion, their right
to self-government, their freedom to trade, or for
any other reason.
To ensure friendly relationships and good business
between people living in different states, any free
person living in one state, not counting slaves,
has the same rights as a free person living in any
other state.
If a person charged as a criminal or traitor in one
state runs away to another state, the government of
the first state has the authority to bring the
criminal back to the state in which the crime was
committed.
Any official records, documents, trials and
decisions made by the court system in one state
will be recognized by each of the other states.
Commentary
Delegates to congress expressed a lofty
idealism when they talked about the "friendship" of
the thirteen states and of the states' willingness
to work together for their mutual benefit and
towards the common good. The reality of the
situation was that each state jealously guarded its
own power, had no qualms about usurping power from
or abusing the power of less powerful states, and
ruthlessly supported its own cause at the expense
of the common good. The bonds of friendship, rather
than being enforced by a structured and centralized
government, faltered because of the unwillingness
of states to focus on their role as part of a
bigger nation.
The Articles of Confederation were worthless
in enforcing good interstate relations because they
did not endow Congress with the authority to
regulate interstate trade or to intervene in
questions of interstate disputes, except as a
last resort. The Articles also made it too difficult for Congress to
easily pass legislation beneficial to the common good. Furthermore,
Congress itself was so plagued by poor interstate
relations and low morale that it was often unable to
address areas that did fall under its direct control.
